Mental health

In media coverage about what a full Affordable Care Act (ACA) repeal would mean for Americans, the focus is usually on two main topics: insurance companies not being able to deny anyone with a pre-existing condition coverage, and young adults

Over the next few months, I’ll be writing about “mental health parity.” This first post explains what “parity” is. Future posts will look at ongoing mental health parity issues and the intersection with the Affordable Care Act (ACA)—including how efforts

Hello! I’m excited to join the Health and Wellness team at CPPP as the organization’s first Hogg Foundation Mental Health Policy Fellow. I am a native of Monterrey, Mexico. I moved to Austin in 2010 to attend the University of

Last week, the Department of State Health Services (DSHS) announced it will support three peer support re-entry pilot program sites, funded through a $1 million budget rider passed by the Legislature in 2015. Mental health peer support is

The recent death of Sandra Bland in a Texas county jail is tragic. At CPPP our prayers and thoughts are with Ms. Bland’s family and friends.
As the authorities investigate the details surrounding Ms. Bland’s death, it’s important to point out

With four days left in the Texas legislative session, I recall my fervent hope back in January – that lawmakers would put aside their differences and focus on what all Texans believe in. We all want Texas to

With 10 days left in the 84th Legislative session, there are still a handful of major decisions pending. Here is a preview of upcoming action we’re watching and some of our work from the past week.
What we’re watching:
The full Senate

Today the Senate Health and Human Services committee is expected to hear two important bills we’ve been following:
HB 1541HB 2835
HB 1541 would establish a Medicaid state service plan for peer support services, designating certified peer specialists

Hundreds of bills have run out of time in the Texas Legislature, but a flurry of amendments and maneuvers mean several policy solutions – and some policy nightmares – still have a chance of passing. Here is a preview of

By CPPP Policy Analyst Katharine Ligon and CPPP Mental Health Policy Intern Lauren Rosales
35 percent of individuals incarcerated in Texas prisons today struggle, or have struggled, with some form of mental illness. Research and experience have shown that after release,